CM directs to recruit locals in health facilities of merged districts

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Tuesday directed to ensure the recruitment of local citizens against vacant posts in health facilities of the merged tribal districts during the ongoing recruitment along with ensuring facilities based and non-transferrable induction of staff to ensure provision of uninterrupted and standard healthcare facilities to local citizens.

While chairing a meeting regarding the services delivery of health facilities by the Health Department in the province including  merged tribal districts, the Chief Minister directed that the up gradation of DHQ hospitals in NMDs, ensuring availability of emergency medicine & Vaccines in all sorts of health facilities throughout the province should be given priority which will help in reduction of referral cases thereby reducing the burden on major hospitals of the province.

The Chief Minister also directed the health department to undertake measures and come up with concrete proposals regarding necessary amendments, wherever necessary, to ensure purchase of standard and quality medicine for the healthcare facilities throughout the province.

He also directed the department to provide final timelines for completion of recruitment processes, inauguration of all buildings near to completion and shifting of Children hospital Peshawar to its newly constructed building.

The Chief Minister was informed that out of the 1171 sanctioned posts in the NMDs, 702 have been filled whereas 469 are currently lying vacant. MoU signing is expected to be finalized with ETEA after which district specific recruitments of locals will be carried out on priority basis to address the shortage of necessary staff.

Regarding services delivery, the meeting was informed that the staff presence has increased from 66% in April 2019 to 87% in Dec 2019, Medicine availability has increased from 46% to 52%, Equipment Functionality increased from 58% to 81%, Utility Functionality from 54% to 59% during the mentioned period.

With regards to Sehat Sahulat Programme in the NMDs, it was told that 515,875 cards have been distributed till 03 Feb 2020 whereas the distribution of Cards in South Waziristan District has been started during the current week under which Rs 0.69 Million cards will be distributed.

It was further told that empanelment of additional hospitals inIslamabad and Lahore has also been ensured as per the directives of Chief Minister.

Regarding the current situation relating to Corona Virus, the Chief Minister was informed that alert has been declared throughout the hospitals of the Province whereas Rs 100 Million have been approved as emergency fund. Police Hospital has been declared as isolated hospital whereas scanning at airports and entry points is being carried out. Similarly, close coordination with the federal government is being ensured to keep track of the situation.

The meeting was also attended by Advisor to Chief Minister on Excise and Taxation Ghazan Jamal, Advisor to Chief Minister on Merged Districts Ajmal Wazir, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Shahab Ali Shah, Secretary Health and other related officers.